Belarus frees 25 prisoners in exchange for the US lifting some sanctions, envoy says

TALLINN, Estonia -- The U.S. special envoy for Belarus said Wednesday that the country's authorities have agreed to release 25 prisoners as part of a deal that includes the lifting of U.S. sanctions against some Belarusian companies.John Coale, President Donald Trump's special envoy for Belarus, made the statement a day after meeting Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who pushed for the remaining U.S. sanctions against his country to be lifted.“25 prisoners are free today!” Coale said on X, adding that “President Trump’s commitment to direct diplomacy delivers results.” He also thanked Lukashenko and authorities in Lithuania, a European Union member that neighbors Belarus, for their support. “We will continue to improve U.S.-Belarus relations and are working to secure the release of more people in the very near future,” Coale said. “We are not finished!”Belarusian state news agency BELTA quoted Coale as saying Wednesday that the parties reached significant progress during Tuesday's talks and that the U.S. will lift sanctions imposed on two Belarusian companies.Belarusian authorities haven't announced any details of the prisoners' release yet.Lukashenko has gover...